WJPA Sports

PIAA Basketball Playoffs are down to the Final Four in each bracket, including a pair of games we’ll have for you Tuesday on the WJPA Sports Network. Peters Township and South Fayette girls meet Tuesday evening at Bethel Park with a spot in the 5A girls title game on the line.  The Indians are in the semifinals for the second straight season, having lost to the Lions in this round a year ago. South Fayette is the defending state champions and is looking to reach the state finals for the third time in four seasons. We’ll have Tuesday’s game on WJPA-FM (95.3) and online with live, free-to-listen audio online. We’re also producing the NFHS Network video (subscription required under PIAA agreements).  Watch/Listen Here

Our coverage will start with a game originally set for Monday as Chartiers Valley takes on West York in the 5A Boys semifinals. This game will be played at Hollidaysburg. The Colts lost in this round a year ago and are trying to get back to the finals for the first time since 2010. The Bulldogs are in the state semis for the first time ever. We’ll have live, free-to-listen audio online. We’re also producing the NFHS Network video (subscription required under PIAA agreements).  Watch/Listen Here

The Upper St. Clair boys are also on Tuesday’s schedule as the Panthers seek their first state championship game berth. USC travels to Altoona for a 6 pm tip-off against District 3 champion Central Dauphin. PIAA Brackets

PIAA Semifinals
Tuesday, Mar. 17 (PIAA District – finish)
5A Boys 7-1 Chartiers Valley vs. 3-1 West York, 5:45 pm at Hollidaysburg, wjpa.com  Watch/Listen Here
5A Girls 7-4 Peters Township vs. 7-1 South Fayette, 6:45 pm at Bethel Park, WJPA-FM (95.3)  Watch/Listen Here
6A Boys 7-1 Upper St. Clair vs. 3-1 Central Dauphin, 6 pm at Altoona

DENVER (AP) — Evgeni Malkin scored twice in a four-goal first period and added an assist in his return from a five-game suspension for slashing, sparking the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 7-2 victory over the league-leading Colorado Avalanche. Malkin’s punishment from the NHL was for raising his stick and striking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin on the helmet and shoulder during their game on March 5. Anthony Mantha, Elmer Soderblom, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Noel Acciari also scored for the Penguins as they matched their season high for goals on just 20 shots while playing their 11th straight game without star center Sidney Crosby.

MIAMI (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel Garcia and Luis Arraez hit run-scoring, two-out singles in a seventh-inning rally that led Venezuela over Italy 4-2 and into its first World Baseball Classic championship game. Venezuela overcame a 2-0, fourth-inning deficit after climbing out of a three-run hole to beat defending champion Japan in a quarterfinal and reached the final for the first time after losing to South Korea in its only previous semifinal appearance in 2009. It meets the United States for the title on Tuesday night and appears likely to start Eduardo Rodríguez against the Americans’ Nolan McLean.

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — March Madness tips off with the First Four, featuring one of this season’s best stories in Miami (Ohio) and a matchup of formerly embattled head coaches in Texas’ Sean Miller and NC State’s Will Wade. Coming off their only loss of the season, the RedHawks have a chance to silence some skeptics against fellow No. 11 seed SMU (20-13) on Wednesday night. The RedHawks, who are back in the tournament for the first time since 2007, were rewarded with a game in Dayton, roughly 43 miles from campus. There are two games Tuesday night to open the tournament.